Politics & Healthcare Reports Damage from Obamacare Spreading to Medicare Programs
Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) November 13, 2013 -- In the wake of health plan cancellations for millions of Americans, United Healthcare (UHC) has issued pink slips in early October 2013 to thousands of Medicare Advantage doctors across the U.S. (1)
Yale Medical Group, with over 1,000 physicians who are Yale University School of Medicine Faculty, received a letter terminating their involvement in UHC Medicare Advantage Network “without cause.” In fact, United Healthcare has slashed 810 primary-care physicians and 1440 subspecialists from its Medicare Advantage Plans in Connecticut. This represents 19% of UHC physicians in Connecticut. (1,2)
In Florida, 45% of physicians were dropped from the UHC Medicare Advantage network. Hardest hit are Fort Meyers, Naples, Cape Coral, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. (1,3,4)
United Healthcare’s network realignment initiative is nationwide and is expected to reduce the size of the network by 10-15% according to Ben Goldstein, a UHC spokesperson. (2)
The timing of these changes is deeply disturbing. Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. Most elderly Medicare Advantage enrollees will not even realize that they need to change their plan in order to keep their doctor before being unable to make that change.
In his book, “Sustainable Healthcare Reform: Harnessing the Power of Capitalism to Fund Our Social Needs,” Steven Trobiani, M.D. warned of this kind of healthcare rationing that would take place as a consequence of Obamacare. He offers an alternative that becomes increasingly more appealing as the fallout from Obamacare spreads. The alternative proposed by Dr. Trobiani will:
• Stabilize healthcare costs.
• Preserve and strengthen employer-sponsored healthcare.
• Limit employee healthcare expenses to the annual HSA contribution.
• Eliminate employer healthcare costs after an initial vesting period.
• Increase the net worth of companies using this plan.
• Improve the quality and affordability of healthcare.
• Create a healthcare funding mechanism for retirees, lessening the burden on Medicare.
It is time to give Dr. Trobiani’s alternative to healthcare reform serious consideration. To learn more about this innovative approach to healthcare reform, go to https://www.politicsandhealthcare.com or obtain a copy of the e-book “Sustainable Healthcare Reform” available through Amazon.com.
1. Stiles, Steve “Unfair Advantage? United Healthcare Boots Thousands of MDs From Its Part C Medicare Plans” Heartwire Medscape.com October 28, 2013.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/813318
2. Sturdevant, Matthew “Insurer’s Move Draws Attention of Delegation, AMA”
Hartford Courant, October 10, 2013.
http://articles.courant.com/2013-10-10/business/hc-united-healthcare-doctor-reaction-20131010_1_medicare-advantage-united-healthcare-unitedhealthcare
3. Gluck, Frank “United Healthcare Drops 300 Southwest Florida Doctors”
News-press.com, October 18, 2013.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20131018/HEALTH/310180009/United-Healthcare-drops-300-Southwest-Florida-doctors?nclick_check=1
4. Nohlgren, Stephen “Patients scramble after AARP Medicare Advantage plans
drop providers” Tampa Bay Times, October 21, 2013.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/patients-scramble-after-aarp-medicare-advantage-plans-drop-providers/2148424
Steven Trobiani, Politics & Healthcare, https://www.politicsandhealthcare.com, +1 763-229-9711, [email protected]
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